Hitchcoc Review of The Human Instrument

Soundbreaking: Stories from the Cutting Edge of Recorded Music: The Human Instrument (2016) Season 1, Episode 3

The Voice as Instrument

[9/10 · 27 November 2016]

This offering features the staple of most of popular music, the human voice. We are brought back to the beginnings, particular the blues of Bessie Smith and her contemporaries. These people were at a disadvantage because they had to sing loud and yet try to maintain an emotional level that would attract audiences. When the quality microphone came into the picture, the crooner was born. Performers like Bing Crosby and Frank Sinatra were able to sing softly into a mic and exude a kind of sexiness that wasn't possible before. What was most interesting to me was that most acclaimed performers throughout history have had unique voices. When we hear Sinatra or Crosby or Bowie or Stewart or Adele or Streisand, there is little chance we will make a mistake in identifying them. But it has as much to do with soul and emotion as it does with technical talent. Excellent.